Convertible beach chair



Nov.24, 1953 M. v. FRlscH CONVERTIBLE BEACH CHAIR Filed March 5l, 1952NVENTOR MADELLNE: Voaos Faisal-1 Patented Nov. 24, 41955? UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE BEACH CHAIR Madeline Voros Frisch, Larchmont,N. Y.

Application March 31, 195.2, Serial No. 279,517

1 Claim.

l This invention relates to beach chairs and in particular to thefoldable type.

In beach chairs, in which the individual reclines, that is, in which theback and seat meet to form a substantially continuous panel of canvas orthe like, the chair when folded to a position to support the person in areclining position employs a single prop or brace member which ispivoted to the canvas frame to engage a leg frame which forms part ofthe seat. However, in this type of beach chair it has not been feasibleto support the canvas holding parts of the frames or adjust them to ahorizontal position and an important object of my invention is toprovide in a collapsible chair of the nature referred to, an adjustableprop and brace member which maybe adjusted to tilt the back of the chairto various angles and which may be also adjusted to permit the canvasframe to assume a horizontal position so that the chair may be used as acot.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a chair structurewith a minimum number of parts that will carry out the objects of theinvention and which will not interfere with the complete collapsing ofthe chair when the same is to be folded for storage.

Still further objects of my invention are the provision of a chair inwhich the prop or brace member may be completely removed for desiredadjustment, and to provide an auxiliary support member at one end of thecanvas frame, that in cooperation with the prop and brace device, willsupport the frame and provide a solid cot structure upon which a personmay recline.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a beach chair of collapsible typeshown open to receive a person in seated position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the chair structure adjustedto cot forming position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the prop andbrace structure used in attaining one of the objects of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation partly in section of the prop andbrace structure used in connection with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the 2 prop and bracecombination removed from the hollow brace or sleeve in which it is held.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the prop and brace after ithas been adjusted as shown in Fig. 5 and reinserted to constitute achair forming support.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Fig. 6 showing a modified formof the prop and brace structure in cot supporting position.

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 'l showing a modified form ofthe prop and brace structure in cot supporting position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the prop and brace partsadjusted for chair supporting position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, IIJ and II indicate respectively,the frame pieces of a collapsible beach chair which are pivotally joinedtogether as at I2, the frame I0 seating Within the frame I I and beingprovided with a reinforcing cross bar I 3 to which is suitably attachedone end of a panel of canvas or other material I4, forming the bottom ofthe chair or cot, and which is secured at its other end about a like barmember I5 reinforcing one end of the leg frame II. The latter alsoincludes reinforcing cross bar I6 at the ground engaging end thereof andthe canvas frame part I0 is also reinforced by a similar bar Ilextending across the ground engaging end thereof.

The frames thus formed are substantially rectangular in shape and pivotwithin each other to permit collapsing of the framesinto a small areafor storage or carrying. The canvas frame l has pivoted on its cross barIl the strut pieces I8 which, when the device is used as a chair asillustrated in Fig. 1, are in alignmentl with the frame pieces I9 andare maintained in such position by suitable projections or pegs I 9 onsaid frame pieces. The leg frame members II are serrated as at 20 alongthe upper edges thereof so that the prop and brace structure to bedescribed may be adjustably positioned therein.

In a preferred form of structure as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7, theprop and brace unit 2| consists of brace legs 22 joined by a cross bar23 and to the ends of which is also pvoted as at 24 the prop legs 25.

It will be noted that the brace legs 22 (Fig. 7) extend as at 26 beyondthe pivot point of the cross bar 23 so that when the bracing unit ismanipulated for adjustment, the end portion 26 of member 22 will layalongside the prop member 25. End 26 or another part of brace 22 and apart of the member 25 will be housed within the casing 21 and beprevented from having relative pivotal movement.

The housing 21 is preferably made in the form of a metal sleeve ofrectangular cross section provided in its upper portion with a fillerblock 28 and secured by a pivot pin 29 to one of the frame pieces I sothat the housing 21 may have swinging movement relative thereto. Thefiller piece 28- acts. asl al stop flor the inserted prop or bracemembers and' `the' sleeve 21 "rigidly holds the prop and brace rrnly toprevent instable movements or swaying of the device when it is used as acot or chair.

In another form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9 the bracelegs 30, only one. of which is shown in Fig. 8, are connected bythecross rod 3l and to the opposite end of 'eachileg 30 there is pivoted asat 32 a prop 33. In Fig, 8, when the device is used asa cot and the propand brace are relatively shortened they will be substantially paralleland will' be housed in a sleeve 34 similarto sleevev 21. vWhen thedevice isto be used as a chair and itis desired to raise the canvaslframe panel'land support it in chair forming positionithe' prop andbrace unit are withdrawn from the sleeve 34 and the prop legs 33opened'to align with the legs 30 as illustrated iFig. 9 for reinsertioninto the sleeve 34, with the result Athat the end of the sleeve willcover the pivotal' joint 32 andprevent relative pivotal movement betweenthe parts 30 and 33. The depending member 30 inthis instance will engagethe lnotches of the leg frame Il to firmly support the c`ot or chair'frame l.

It is necessary in this particular structure, becaus ofthe Yamount ofmovement necessary to convert the chair to a cot or vice versa, toprovide collapsing members inthe nature of a prop and brace which may beused efficiently in either open lor 4closed position. In the form oftheI invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7 it is immaterial whether thelleg'structure lis extended ornot', as the sleeve 21 covering a portionof the leg22'an'd apart of the prop 25 will prevent relative pivotalmovement therebetweeri.y In either the open orclosed pi'isition of theparts 30 and 33-as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the sleeve 34 willhousethe pivot 32and prevent pivotal movement between the legs '33 and 33which would cause thevcot to sway.

` It is evident, therefore, that I have provided a simplied constructionof beach chair which may be used as a chair or may be quickly and easilyadjusted for use as a cot or the like that will support a person inreclinmg horizontal position. My improved device may be applied tochairs already in use and does not require any mechanical knowledge foradjustment.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be `ujnderstopd`that I do not limit 'myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefiiiedin the appended claim.

Having, thus described my invention, what I claiiii'as new, and desireto secure by United "States Letters Patent is:

A convertible beach chair, comprising a frame having longitudinal sidebars and connecting end cross bars, a second frame having longitudinalside barsand connecting end' bars, the sidebars of the secondframefbein'g disposed against the outer sides of the side bars of thers't frame and pivotally connected thereto near adjacent ends of the twoframes, a iiexible load supporting fabric strip secured at one end to across bar of the rst frame and at the other end to the opposite crossbar of the other frame, strut pieces pivotally mounted on the othercross bar of said first frame, and telescopic brace bars pivoted on theside bars of the rst frame-and having adjustable bearing on the sidebars ofthe second frame, for supporting the two frames in rigid angularrelation to each other whereby the two frames may be used as a beachchair or as' a cot, said strut pieces being pivoted into ground engagingposition vwhenl said frames are adjusted to be used as a cot and pivotedbetween said'longitudinal side bars of said first frame when said framesare to-be used as a chair.

VOROS FRISCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber vName Date 8551.379` Osterberg May 21, 19.07

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 126,133 Austria Feb. 10, 1932

